Glacier National Park
From bucket list worthy hiking trails to epic scenic drives, once in a lifetime wildlife viewing opportunities, unbelievable turquoise-colored lakes, wildflower-filled alpine meadows, and glistening glaciers galore, Glacier National Park is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet!
Glacier National Park is situated in northwest Montana and shares a border with Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. It officially became a national park in 1910, and has become so popular that the park is now listed as one of the most visited national parks in the United States. In 2021, the park received just over three million visitors!
The closest city that you can fly into to visit Glacier National Park is in Kalispell which is a forty-five minute drive from the park’s West Glacier entrance. This national park can be broken up into six sections; Lake McDonald, Logan Pass, St. Mary, Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and Polebridge. Most popular with visitors though is the Lake McDonald and Logan Pass areas.
Glacier National Park remains open year-round, however winter conditions do bring road closures to several locations such as the park’s biggest attraction, the Going-To-The-Sun Road. Snow comes early to Glacier National Park usually sometime in mid-October and remains on the ground late into June. For this reason, Glacier is a national park that is best visited in summer.
Many Glacier
Many Glacier is located on the northeast side of Glacier National Park. It is arguably one of the most beautiful sections in the park and visitors often state that this area is their favorite. You’ll need at least one full day in Many Glacier for sightseeing, and two to three days if you want to hike some of the longer hiking trails here like the Iceberg Lake Trail or Grinnell Glacier Trail.
Because Many Glacier is a remote destination, there aren’t as many visitors to this side of the park. However due to limited lodging and campgrounds, accommodation in Many Glacier can book out months in advance during the park’s peak season. Be sure to book your hotel or campsite well in advance if you plan to visit in July or August.
Planning Your Trip To Glacier National Park
Flights: If you’re planning on flying into Montana to visit Glacier National Park, the closest airport is Glacier Park Airport in Kalispell. You can also fly into Missoula Airport or Spokane Airport which are both under five hours away from the West Glacier entrance.
Rental Cars: If you’re flying in, you’ll be needing a rental car. For the best deal book your rental car with Enterprise who are our preferred rental car company. You can also compare rental car prices for your trip on rentalcars.com, a website that aggregates all car rental companies and shows prices including taxes.
RV & Campervan Rentals: One of the best ways to travel is by RV or campervan. It’s much more comfortable than camping and will save you money by combining the cost of transport and accommodation. Search for RV and campervan rentals on Outdoorsy.
Driving To Glacier National Park: Turn your visit to Glacier National Park into a road trip! Here are some suggested itineraries below.
- From Missoula: Pick up your rental car from Missoula and take Highway 93 north to Glacier National Park. Be sure to stop at The Huckleberry Patch in Arlee for bison burgers and huckleberry coffee, then detour to the Bison Range for wildlife viewing.
- From Spokane: Pick up your rental car from Spokane and take Interstate 90 east to Glacier National Park. If you have time for sightseeing, stop and visit Lake Coeur d’Alene and Wallace in Idaho. Alternatively, take Highway 95 and Highway 2 to Glacier National Park and stop to visit Sandpoint and Kootenai Falls on the drive there.
Where To Stay In Glacier National Park
Do you want to stay inside Glacier National Park? Then you will need to book your accommodation months in advance! Especially if you plan to visit between June and October. There are several lodging options near the West Glacier entrance which include Lake McDonald Lodge, the Village Inn, and Apgar Village Lodge & Cabins.
Campgrounds Near West Glacier: There are a few campgrounds near the West Glacier entrance that are located around the shores of Lake McDonald, but the largest campground and most popular is Apgar Campground. Other campgrounds near Lake McDonald include Avalanche Campground, Fish Creek Campground, and Sprague Creek Campground.
If you don’t manage to secure a hotel room or campsite inside the park, you will need to search for hotel rooms in West Glacier, Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls, or Whitefish. If all of the nearby hotel rooms are booked out, you might need to search for vacation homes near West Glacier.
Here are a few recommended hotels near the West Glacier entrance of Glacier National Park:
Use the interactive map above to search for hotels and vacation homes near Glacier National Park. Recommended hotels, campgrounds, and other points of interest have also been marked on the map.
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